Copy of Getting Your Work Into Shows: A Curator's Perspective (part 2)

By Nancy Rynes

August 2021

We've discussed the need for you, as an artist, to follow all of the rules in the prospectus and submit good photos of your art on time. But the real basis for your work making it into an art show is the quality of the work itself, and that's what I want to talk about today.

What is it that curators and jurors are looking for?

I can tell you what I'm looking for in a quick sentence: art that is well-executed, impactful, and ideally makes me say "Wow!" Obviously, this varies by venue, art show, curator, and juror so I’ll give you my viewpoint as just one person who is both a curator and artist.  Keep in mind, too, that during the selection process the curatorial team often views hundreds of entries over the course of a couple of weeks. And they may view each entry several times before making a selection, which means the team could easily view thousands of images. This can be a mind-numbing process, especially when viewing many artists who have very similar work.

So what do I personally look for as a curator/juror when I'm putting a show together?

Ideally, I seek out work that has an IMPACT on the viewer. Some kind of “WOW” factor that can be difficult to quantify. I’ve listed here some of the qualities of an artwork that produce a positive, “WOW!” impact for me:

1. Mastery of the Medium – I’ve been in the arts long enough to be able to recognize someone who has good control or mastery of his/her chosen medium, and this is one of the first things that stands out. You’ve studied, practiced, painted miles of canvas/paper or taken thousands of photos. For painting or photography, you’ve mastered composition, light, color, viewpoint, eye movement, brushwork, etc. For sculptures, your work demonstrates balance, movement, energy, and is composed well. It really does take time to become adept in something. The arts are no exception. Study, learn from your “mistakes,” put in the time to perfect the craft of your art. Trust me, it will pay off.

2. Use of Values – for photographs, paintings, and drawings, expert use of values makes for a stunning piece. This is a function of how the human eye and brain combine to perceive a scene – bright, warm colors and strong contrasts tend to stand out in our fields of view more than dull colors or low contrast. I will admit that I often first choose images that employ effective use of chiaroscuro or strong contrasts. But I’m also attracted to images with subtler, gentler use of values – such as landscapes of rainy scenes or gray days. 

3. Expert use of Edges – for paintings, drawings, and photographs, masterful use of hard vs soft edges can really make an impact on a viewer and lure the viewer's eye to linger in the work.

4. Use of Color – Artworks with warm colors tend to be more attractive to the human eye than works using mostly cool colors. I’m human…I too am attracted to works with a lot of warm tones but I rarely let this keep me from bringing a strong piece of work into a show if the color scheme is cooler. Not every juror or curator feels the same. From my perspective as an artist, I can tell you that my warm-toned paintings, or paintings with a warm-tomed focal point, get accepted to shows with much more frequency than my cooler-toned paintings.

5. Strong, Gutsy Compositions – Paint a cute puppy dead center on a canvas and I’m likely to pass it by. Be bold and creative with your composition and I’m much more likely to send you an acceptance letter, even if it is for a painting of puppy.

6. Size – Bigger can be better in the world of art shows. I have a lot of wall space to fill and yes, I admit to being biased toward bringing in larger works. It’s easier to arrange the hanging of five big pieces of art rather than 25 small pieces, and they have a bigger, more immediate impact on the viewer. Having said that, I do strive to balance out these shows with a mix of large and small works. Keep in mind that this varies from show to show, so read the prospectus carefully and submit work that fits within the show's size limits. 

7. Something Out of the Ordinary – I once lived and curated in New England (USA). I can’t begin to tell you how many images of lighthouses and sailboats were submitted to the shows I curated at that time. I usually passed them by because I was tired of seeing the same view of the same lighthouse or barn submitted by every photographer or landscape artist in a three-state radius! If it’s been done hundreds or thousands of times, leave it alone. Find a fresh perspective on it or, better yet, a completely different or unexpected view of the subject…zoom in…zoom out…something a bit out of the ordinary will often attract the eye of a juror or curator.

But the absolute number one thing that excites me about an artist’s work is……can you guess?

Have a unique, clear, distinctive “vision” or “creative voice” that shines through. 

What do I mean by “unique vision?

It’s a combination of all of the above points plus your own unique essence shining through in the final product. I want to see your personality, your viewpoint, or your experiences reflected in your art. I want to connect with you as the artist. It’s more than just “style” or “subject matter” or brushstrokes or focal length. I am talking about that impossible-to-quantify uniqueness that makes us instantly recognize an Ansel Adams photograph from across a gallery. It’s your unique inspiration, your creativity, what excites you about your art. Copying others' work or style isn't right on many levels but for me, the most important reason to forge your own path in the arts is so that others can see YOUR creative spark. It’s YOU – so don’t be afraid to let it come through in your work! It may take you some time to get a sense as to what your vision is, but the path to getting there is perhaps more fun and enlightening than the destination.

This, then, is what I really look for when I curate….Unique Vision.

Does your artistic vision hold some amount of uniqueness? Does it reflect your personality or your experiences? Your interests? If so, great! If not, consider what you might adjust so that your art becomes a one-of-a-kind creation that viewers can recognize as distinctly yours.

"The Light in the World III" Courtesy Ken Elliott Fine Art

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